Yellowknife (June 13/03) - If you're at the SkyHawks show this weekend and it looks like the parachuters are going to fly face-first into the crowd, don't embarrass yourself by screaming, pushing other people out of the way and heading for the hills.

The Canadian Forces' SkyHawks parachute team will be landing this Sunday. - photo courtesy of SkyHawks

There's nothing to fear. It's called a downward plane formation and it's part of the show.

The team, equipped with Canadian flag canopies, will show off other fancy formations and have "controlled collisions" in the sky.

"We do formations that a lot of people don't realize you can do with parachutes," says Lt. (N) Dawn Herniman, part of the Canadian Forces parachute team.

Since last summer, she's jumped from a plane 250 times.

The first time she ever jumped, she stepped off onto the wheel of an aircraft and shimmied out on the strut of the wing. "Your legs are flying behind you and you go from there."

"It's always a rush. You get the adrenaline working and the heart pumping. It's just a thrill to be flying through the air. I think it's the best job on earth."

But after so many times, does skydiving ever become just a job?

"There's always something to learn on a jump, always something to look forward to," she says.

"I don't think it ever becomes routine."

The SkyHawks recently performed two shows in Nunavut. Their Yellowknife gig starts at the William McDonald soccer field at 2:30 p.m on Sunday -- Canadian Forces Day.

Earlier in the day, I will be jumping with one of the team members.

Herniman says she doesn't remember exactly what the chances of an accident happening are, but she assures me I'll be watching a safety video explaining the risks. Then I'll sign something.

Eeek.

Thankfully, I'll be strapped to an expert.

"It's very safe," she says.